Can nursing really cause higher cholesterol in a mother?

While everyone can agree that breastfeeding has many benefits, that doesn’t mean that you won’t encounter various changes to your body during the process. One of the concerns for those who worry about their health is cholesterol, so a new mother may be worried as her cholesterol rises during pregnancy and/or nursing.  

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is necessary for your body to function properly. Although high levels can be dangerous and are associated with complications such as heart disease or strokes, the human body needs some cholesterol to carry out the processes necessary for life. Cholesterol is produced by the liver and can also be related to one’s diet.

While one’s cholesterol levels may rise and fall during their lives due to diet and lifestyle changes, the changes in cholesterol during pregnancy and breastfeeding are different. Regardless of what you eat and your lifestyle, pregnant women generally see a drop in lipid and cholesterol levels during the first trimester followed by elevated levels during the second and third trimesters.

• If you were not anticipating this change, you may be worried that higher cholesterol levels are harmful to either you or your infant. This is not the case.

  A few things to note:

  • During pregnancy, higher levels of cholesterol do not lead to deposits in your arteries because it is used by the body and by the baby
  • During breastfeeding, cholesterol is passed through breast milk to the infant, providing an easily digestible source of nutrition
  • Cholesterol has even been shown to aid neurological development in infants, making it both necessary and beneficial to your infant

   

  If your cholesterol levels are higher than normal during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, it is not a cause for concern. This is a normal part of your body’s preparation for the baby.